YouTube Care Bear Countdown

All About the Care Bears

If you're in your late 20s or early 30s, perhaps you remember the fuzzy bears that captured the hearts of millions of kids during the 1980s. Created early in the decade by greeting card company American Greetings, the Care Bears were an instant smash. Before long, toy manufacturer Kenner took the lead, creating plush bears that emulated the artistic designs once seen only on birthday cards.

A television series and several feature films soon followed. Both the series and the films followed the Care Bears on their adventures in their home of Care-a-lot, located in the grand Kingdom of Caring up in the clouds. The Care Bears spread love and good tidings to anyone who was in need of a little cheering up. Their vantage point from the sky gave them a great view of those who really needed a helping hand. Their good deeds were often challenged by the evil Professor Cold Heart, the evil wizard No Heart and the monstrous Dark Heart. In the end, though, the compassion and good spirit of the Care Bears always prevailed.

The Care Bears' popularity may have been attributed to their cute expressions and cheery demeanors, but it was their unique colors, tummy symbols and secret "weapon" that really made them a hit amongst children. Each Care Bear's belly is imprinted with a special design that best epitomizes his or her personality. The following is a list of bears and their traits:

• Bedtime Bear is a bear who loves his sleep! He's constantly yawning, and his stomach features a sleeping crescent moon.
• Birthday Bear is the festive bear who loves a good party. His stomach features a cupcake with a candle.
• Cheer Bear can't bear the thought of anyone being unhappy! She is as perky and delightful as the rainbow on her belly.
• Friend Bear shows her fellow bears what true friendship is all about. The smiling flowers on her tummy prove as much!
• Funshine Bear is the guy who laughs about everything all the time. What could be more appropriate than the smiling sun on his stomach?
• Good Luck Bear spreads his best wishes everywhere he goes. It's fitting that his stomach's symbol is a four-leaf clover with heart-shaped petals.
• Grumpy Bear is usually down in the dumps, but he's got a heart of gold underneath it all. His tummy shows off a dark cloud with heart-shaped raindrops.
• Love-A-Lot Bear is the cupid of the group. She spreads love with her positive demeanor, and her symbol is two entwined hearts.
• Share Bear has a big heart – and she loves to share! She carries a satchel full of lollipops, and her symbol depicts the tasty treats.
• Tenderheart Bear is historically considered the leader of the pack. He encourages his fellow Care Bears to spread the love! His tummy features a large red heart.
• Wish Bear is someone we should all have in our lives. She grants wishes and shows off a very appropriate shooting star on her belly.

Many other Care Bears have appeared over the years, though the majority of their appearances have been seasonal, short-lived or simply to suit a particular storyline. Today, the Care Bears have undergone a slight makeover, but they're still quite popular. That much is evidenced by the many videos and clips that have made their way to YouTube.

The Phenomenon of YouTube: Care Bear Countdown and More

Any die-hard Care Bears fan knows all about the countdown. In fact, saying the mere word "countdown" to a fan is likely to encourage a most unexpected response: a song! The familiar words are almost like a chant to anyone who watched the show in its prime during the '80s: "Care Bear countdown! Four, three, two, one!" These were the opening lyrics to the theme song for "The Care Bears Family," the television program helmed by production house Nelvana.

Even today, this familiar theme may bring a pang of longing to anyone who loved the show as a child. Fortunately, YouTube is only a click away, and as usual, it promises to deliver nearly anything you're interested in viewing. A quick search on YouTube – "Care Bears Countdown" works quite well – and returns a handful of results, including the original clip from the cartoon. Other videos prove just how special the theme song is to so many people: one shows two youngsters dancing and singing along, while another finds a group of teenagers lip-synching and dancing while holding fuzzy Care Bear toys.

It's obvious that the Care Bears' impact is as great now as it's ever been. With the return of many classic movies and toys from the '80s, the interest is sure to grow! .